The annual Bedford - Bamberg exchange will be taking place in October 2012 with the english students visiting Bamberg, our twin town. Students will then receive their german partners in March 2013.

Further details of the Bedford - Bamberg exchange can be found in this letter.

Please fill out the following forms and return them to Mrs Piotrowski in the MFL Department as soon as possible.

Application for participation

Form for 2nd/3rd timers

The MFL department ran a successful trip to Cologne Christmas Markets last year and would like to welcome those studying Languages to apply to go on the trip this year. During the trip, we see round the vibarant city of Colgne, it's amazing cathedral and extensive markets, filled with German specialities and handicrafts. We also go to the Lindt Chocolate museum and hope this year to incorporate a boat trip down the River Rhine.

A group of students are heading to Cologne Christmas Markets from the 14th-16th of December. They will be experiencing how Christmas is celebrated in Germany and trying out lots of traditional German food, as well as using their knowledge of German to get them around! They will also be climbing the famous Cologne Cathedral, the highest in Europe and visiting the Lindt Chocolate factory.

The letter with all the final arrangements is attached here.

Many thanks

Mrs C Piotrowski
Head of Modern Foreign Languages

Students from years 9-11 have recently returned from Bamberg, our twin town in Germany as part of the annual County exchange. The exchange itself has been running for over 30 years and has been very successful.

Biddenham students now form the largest part of the Bedford cohort and fully embrace life in Germany when they are there. They go into one of eight local schools in Bamberg and live with families from the town.

This year, the group have had a very enjoyable trip and all seem to have learned more of both the language and the culture. The trip is fairly long, lasting about 11 days, and represents extremely good value for money. It is part funded through subsidies from the County.

Interested in the German Exchange?

There are many more students in Bamberg who wish to have an English exchange partner. If any families would be willing to house a German student for the return leg of the exchange in March 2011 please get in touch with Mrs Piotrowski of the MFL department.

Several of our students have already indicated a desire to return, whether as part of the exchange or as part of the European work experience programme. We hope that the link with Bamberg and Biddenham in particular will continue to grow and long lasting friendships be made.

Mrs Piotrowski
Head of Modern Foreign Languages

An exchange between Biddenham International School and the Collège Roger Bellair was born when Gary Wright, a former assistant head teacher at Biddenham relocated to France with his family. He wanted to ensure that his children did not lose contact with Bedford, as well as to encourage a link with Thury-Harcourt, his new home. Mrs Inness, from Biddenham Upper School, took up the challenge and agreed to work on the UK side of the project.